A young man’s dying wish was the spur for a new extension at Francis House which opens in the spring.

Stephen Ryan wrote to trustees at the children’s hospice in Didsbury in 2009 saying he wanted to be cared for in an adult environment. His muscle-wasting condition meant he was increasingly isolated as he got older and he came up with the idea of a place especially for teenagers and young adults.

His letter told how he needed to spend more time at the hospice because his deteriorating condition was making it harder to keep in touch with friends using his computer. Stephen died within a few months, aged 21, and although it was too late for him his request was not in vain. Almost a year later his sister Tanya, who has the same condition, cut the ribbon officially declaring Francis Lodge open.

The four-bedroom house is the forerunner for the new £3.5m extension now close to completion. It will meet the growing need for respite care for older users doubling the number of beds at Francis House to 14.

More than 90 users aged over 16 – the oldest of them 31 – have been accommodated in Francis Lodge, a parent-free zone giving young adults greater freedom and independence. Stephen suffered from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) which also claimed the lives of his sister Natalie (18) in 2001, and Stacey (20) three years later.

In his letter, Stephen said the lodge could be a place where he could go and spend time with other young adults with life-limiting conditions. It focused on the changing needs of young people as their conditions worsen and their lives begin to be affected as education, social support and health provision change from children’s to adult services.

Tanya, who often stays at the hospice, has one surviving sibling, Stephanie (35), who was born without the condition. Tanya, aged 27, said: “Stephen would have been so proud at the opening of Francis Lodge and ultimately the new extension. He would have been amazed and even though he’s not here, I know he’s watching his dream come true. He was determined to see a place created to meet his and his friends’ needs and to live a life like any other person rather than one governed by routine.”

“I just take each day as it comes and my friends and family get me through. I don’t think any of us could have coped without the support of Francis House over the years. It’s like a home from home.”

The Ryan siblings, along with parents Bridget and Steve, have visited Francis House for respite care since 1993 with the hospice helping them through deaths of Natalie, Stephen and Stacey.

Francis House Chief Executive Reverend David Ireland said: “Stephen's letter brought into focus the plight of many young people who are too old for the children's service but too young to fit in with the traditional adult care system. “Even though the creation of Francis Lodge from the receipt of the letter by the trustees to the official opening took only 18 months, it was too late for Stephen, but his friends and many others have benefited from his efforts and will do so even more with our new extension.”